In 1644 Pontefract showed its allegiance to King Charles I when a number of volunteers, including the Mayor, occupied the castle and prepared for siege.After five months during which time the King had been defeated in battle the defenders agreed a treaty. This peace lasted for two years until a local man, Colonel John Morris, hearing that the garrison was to be strengthened, delivered beds for the new troops and when he had gained entry with his men overpowered the resident soldiers and once again the castle was under siege.
Cromwell himself arrived and by both force and bribery tried to break the siege but it lasted for a whole year. Even the execution of Charles I did not make the Royalists give in as they proclaimed his son Charles II as King and even minted their own coins. Eventually this last Royalist stronghold surrendered and the towns people who had suffered during all the fighting asked for the castle to be demolished. The bill went through Parliament so quickly that the work started less than two weeks later.